Coalition: TGPF More Important than Proposal for Ad Hoc Judges
The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform is urging the government to immediately form an independent Joint Fact-Finding Team (TGPF) in the case of the attempted premeditated murder of Andrie Yunus.
Afif Abdul Qoyum, a member of the Coalition and the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), stated that the government cannot ignore the demand for an independent TGPF by proposing the involvement of professionals as ad hoc judges in Andrie’s case.
“This case must be resolved through the general courts,” Afif said when contacted on Saturday, 11 April 2026.
He explained that the proposal for ad hoc judges and the demand for an independent TGPF in Andrie’s case are two different matters. However, if the government seeks to maintain public trust and the dignity of the law, it should take steps to form the TGPF and bring the case to the general courts.
According to Afif, forming the TGPF is far more urgent than Gibran’s proposal. This is because, based on statements from the Military Police Centre and the police, particularly regarding the number of perpetrators, the information provided does not align with the coalition’s findings.
The Coalition suspects that there were 16 perpetrators in the acid attack on Andrie. However, the TNI Military Police Centre only states that there were four perpetrators from the TNI Strategic Intelligence Detachment. The case files and evidence for these four perpetrators have been handed over to the Military Prosecutor 07-II Jakarta.
“If even in that context, the leads and information we provided are ignored, then what guarantee is there that ad hoc judges in the military court will act comprehensively?” Afif said.
The Coalition, he continued, fears that the proposal to involve ad hoc judges in Andrie’s case without accompanying commitments to bring it to the general courts and form an independent TGPF will only result in a partial legal process.
“The TGPF is an important instrument in this case for law enforcement to uncover the facts of the incident,” Afif stated.
Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Muhammad Isnur, holds a similar view. He said that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s statement proposing the involvement of professionals as ad hoc judges does not address the integrity and credibility of the military judiciary in Andrie’s case.
Instead, he said, Gibran’s statement further reinforces issues related to the professionalism, track record, and integrity of the parties in the military judicial mechanism in trying general criminal cases.
In response to Gibran’s statement, Isnur said the Coalition is demanding that the TNI halt the ongoing legal process and immediately hand it over to the general courts.
“Ignoring this is tantamount to opposing the policy direction already stated by the Vice President,” Isnur said.
Previously, Gibran proposed involving professionals as ad hoc judges in the Andrie case court. This proposal represents the government’s commitment to supporting the strengthening of the judicial system to achieve the principle of justice.
“Therefore, the direct involvement of professionals with strong track records and integrity as ad hoc judges in the court for the acid attack on Andrie Yunus is important,” he said in a written statement on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
On 8 April, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the government would first coordinate in responding to the demand for forming an independent TGPF.
Andrie Yunus has urged that his legal process be tried through the general court mechanism. He conveyed this demand via a memo dated 3 April 2026.
The Deputy Coordinator of Kontras rejected the prosecution of the attackers through military courts. Regardless of whether the perpetrators are civilians or military personnel, they must be tried through the general courts.
According to him, the legal process through military courts has the potential not to deliver justice for the victim. He views military courts as often becoming spaces of impunity for soldiers who commit legal and human rights violations.
Andrie was doused with corrosive chemicals on 12 March while passing through Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta. Medical records state that Andrie suffered burns over more than 20 percent due to the attack.